Cigarette and cigarette package



S. C. MILLER July 5, 1932.

Filed Oct. 30, 1931 Inventor Patented July 5, 1932 r i 1 UNITED STATES SAMUEL C. MILLER, 01 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY CIGARETTE AND CIGARETTE PACKAGE Application filed October 30, 1931. 4 Serial No. 572,163.

The present'invention relates to improvements in cigarettes and cigarette packages and has for an object to provide an im roved cigarette and cigarette package whic shall be for allpurposes substantially moistureroof.

p The aim of the invention is to provide a tight package for cigarettes which will exclude external contamination and retain the natural and residual moisture of the tobacco within the cigarettes until the time of consumption.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive package which may be 1 easily handled by the user and which will more readily fit into the pocket and be less obtrusive therein. 3

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cigarette and package :0 which will. be susceptible'of manufacture and assembly in a less expensive and more ready manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing where like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved'cigarette and package constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a lon 'tudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3, also inFigure 1.

Referrmg more particularly to the drawing, in Figure 1 there is shown a number of cigarettes constructed in accordance with the present invention-and as lying upon an assembly table in lateral contact and in a single row combined into package form. The filler or tobacco in the various cigarettes is indicated at 5 while the wrappers are indicated at 6.

To the end of producinga substantially moisture plroof cigarette and package I disense wit the ordinary rice paper heretoore employed as the wrapper, for cigarettes and in its steadI propose the use of a wrapper of cellophane or similar moisture-proofor semi-moisture proof material. By cellophane I mean regenerated or convertedcellulose, The cellophane wrappers 6 may be transparent, if desired, in which the texture of the tobacco will attractively show through the wrapper; or such wrapper may be tinted or colored, for instance white, like the ordinary cigarette at present in use.

The cellophane wrappers'6 will very effectively protect the body of the filler 5 of tobacco, but the ends of the filler will be exposed at the ends of such wrappers 6;

To the end of enclosing such exposed portions of the filler and for the additional purpose of binding a number of the cigarettes into a unitary package, I employ end closure strips also of cellophane? including the intermediate portions 7 and the edge flaps 8 and 9 which are adapted to overlap upon opposite side portions of the cigarette wrappers 6 and be cemented thereto by use of a colorless, tasteless and odorless adhesive or cement. 7

The intermediate portions 7 will fit tightly against the exposed ends of the fillers 5 of a number of cigarettes thus enclosing such end portions and making the entire package and the individual -cigarettes for all purposes moisture-proof; whereby any contamination from the outside will be prevented from gaining access to the fillers 5- of the various cigarettes composing the package, and at the same time the original moisture inherent in the tobacco when packed will be prevented from. escape or from evaporation. Consequently, the original flavor and condition of the cigarette will be preserved for a great length of time. Theend stri s 7 may be quickly removed or stripped om the' package, cello hane havin a desirable characteristic 0 yielding 'to llght force applied to remove the cement.' At the same time, the cellophane will remain tightly in place until such force is applied. The cellophane is characteristically tough and will not tear readily so that the end strips will come-01f in toto, rendering the handling of the package desirably neat and nice.

The cigarettes may be pressed into the square form shown or not, but this form is desirable in order that the cigarettes ma be nested closely together with large super cial surfaces for the engagement of the side flaps 8 and 9 and for the purchase of the adheslve.

I have discovered that moisture-proof cellophane makes a very good wrapper paper for cigarettes as it burns without taste or odor and at approximately the same speed as the tobacco.

It will be obvious that various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts could be made which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved cigarette package comprising a plurality of cigarettes including fillers of tobacco and wrappers of moisture proof material placed side by side, and end enclosing strips placed in common over both ends of the assembled cigarettes and having lateral flaps brought inwardly of the package and against opposite sides of the cigarettes and cemented thereto.

2. An improved cigarette package comprising a plurality of cigarettes placed in a row side by side and in lateral contact and pressed into substantially square form, such cigarettes composed each of a filler of tobacco and a wrapper of cellophane, and cellophane end strips of a length substantially equal to the length of the package and extending in common across the exposed ends of the fillers, said strips having lateral flaps extending inwardly and overlapping the sides of the square cigarettes and being cemented to the sides of the cellophane Wrappers.

SAMUEL G. MILLER. 

